Life Sciences Commons^™

Efficacy Of Cognitive Enrichment For Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus): Evaluation Of Planning Abilities Through The Use Of A Novel Problem Solving Task, Lisa Kay Lauderdale

Dissertations

Environmental enrichment is a key component to improving the psychological and physiological well being of animals in human care. Enrichment can be achieved through a variety of modalities, including the addition of objects and scents, or by providing the animals with additional challenges. The effectiveness of specific enrichment should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine if the desired result is achieved. Environmental enrichment devices (EED’s) can be utilized to present novel problems to animals in human care. When confronted with a novel problem, dolphins can plan their behavior to create a more efficient strategy then previously modeled.

The …

Uncovering The Identity And Metabolism Of Bacterial Coa-Rna, Joseph R. Spangler

Dissertations

Coenzyme A is an indispensable molecule in all known life with roles in metabolism, gene regulation, and macromolecule synthesis. As CoA is derived from RNA itself, it’s incorporation into RNA by in vitro methods has proven useful in research probing the origin of life based on the RNA World theory. The discovery in contemporary bacteria of RNA modified with CoA, however, provided an unexpected twist to previously well-characterized bacterial systems. The identity of sequences associated with CoA-RNA has been elusive since their discovery in 2009 based on the difficulties in isolation while maintaining RNA quality. The aim of this study …

A Global Study Of Gpp Focusing On Light-Use Efficiency In A Random Forest Regression Model, Suhua Wei, Chuixiang Yi, Wei Fang, George Hendrey

Publications and Research

Light-use efficiency (LUE) is at the core of mechanistic modeling of global gross primary production (GPP). However, most LUE estimates in global models are satellite based and coarsely measured with emphasis on environmental variables. Others are from eddy covariance towers with much greater spatial and temporal data quality and emphasis on mechanistic processes, but in a limited number of sites. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive global study of tower-based LUE from 237 FLUXNET towers, and scaled up LUEs from in situ tower level to global biome level. We integrated the tower-based LUE estimates with key environmental and biological …

Growth Patterns And Size-Group Interactions In Hatchery-Reared Age-0 Lake Sturgeon, Joseph M. Susco

All NMU Master's Theses

Raising lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in hatcheries is an important tool for rehabilitation and conservation, but is expensive. When hatchery sturgeon do not grow large enough before stocking, their odds of survival decline significantly and resources are wasted. We investigated the potential limiting effect of large lake sturgeon on the growth rate of smaller conspecifics housed in the same tank, and the possibility of increasing growth rates by separating individuals into different size classes. We also examined plasma cortisol levels of the different size classes over time as an indicator of stress levels, and levels of free plasma …

Thylakoid Protein Targeting/Insertion By A Signal Recognition Particle In Chloroplasts, Priyanka Sharma

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Protein targeting is a fundamental cellular process that directs proteins from their site of synthesis to the site where they function. The signal recognition particle (SRP) dependent targeting pathway is conserved in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes where it co-translationally targets polypeptide chains emerging from ribosomes to the endoplasmic reticulum (eukaryotes) or cytoplasmic membrane (prokaryotes). A structurally unique form of SRP is found in chloroplasts where it functions to post-translationally bind and target a subset of integral thylakoid membrane proteins, the light harvesting chlorophyll binding proteins (LHCPs). Mature LHCPs bind chlorophyll a/b and function in photosynthetic light capture. Like many other …

Evaluation And Association Analysis Of Cowpea Salt Tolerance, Waltram Second Ravelombola

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] (2n=2x=22) is a leguminous crop providing inexpensive protein for human consumption that can be grown worldwide. Salinity is one of the major threats to cowpea production, particularly in semi-arid regions of Africa. Salinity significantly affects seed germination and decreases pod yield in cowpea. However, little has been done to provide farmers salt-tolerant cowpea cultivars. Knowledge on the genetics of cowpea salt tolerance is very limited. This study aimed to:(1) evaluate cowpea salt tolerance at germination stage, (2) evaluate cowpea salt tolerance at seedling stage, (3) conduct an association study for cowpea salt tolerance at germination …

Role Of Trpv4 In Astrocyte Extracellular Matrix Production, Abby Terlouw

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is an alteration of brain pathology following damage of the central nervous system (CNS) by an external force. In the CNS, glial scar formation often occurs following TBI, and astrocytes are widely believed to contribute to this scar formation. While the role of astrocytes in extracellular matrix (ECM) production is known, the exact mechanism(s) for this event remain unclear. One possible method is the activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4). TRPV4 is a channel protein found in the astrocyte membrane which has been shown to generate intracellular calcium ions following mechanical stimulation. Previous research …

Characterization Of Murine Breast Cancer Cell Lines For Anti-Cancer Vaccine, Haven N. Frazier

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States (1). While treatments involving radiation and chemotherapy currently exist, disease must be detected early in order for the treatments to be somewhat effective, and there is no effective treatment after metastasis occurs (2). Additionally, current therapies do not mitigate tumor immunosuppression. Decreasing the tumor-associated immunosuppressive conditions while activating antitumor immunity could prevent recurrence and metastasis, possibly leading to an effective treatment for cancer (3). Tumor cell vaccines could possibly address this issue and have become a …

The Contribution Of Solid Food On Total Water Intake In 3-13 Y Children, Audrey Caroline Smith

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Introduction: Adequate hydration is important element of good health. Several studies indicate that the majority of kids are hypohydrated and do not meet dietary water intake guidelines. Some scientist also suggest that good hydration might be achieved by large consumption of food that are rich in water (i.e. fruits and vegetables). However, the information of food consumption on total water intake in children is limited.

Purpose: We evaluated the contribution of water from solid food on total water intake in children.

Methodology: For this cross-sectional study 81 children (35 female) 3 to 13 years old were randomly recruited to participate. …

The Relationship Between Habitual Dietary Protein Intake And Dual Task Performance In Sedentary, Recreationally Active, And Masters Athlete Older Adults, Whitney L. Freeman

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

As the body ages, physical and cognitive declines can result in balance and mobility deficits, but research has shown that proper nutrition and exercise can help maintain physical and mental capacity. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between habitual dietary protein intake and dual task performance in sedentary (SED), recreationally active (RA), and masters athletes (MA). To measure physical activity levels, the Rapid Physical Activity Questionnaire (RAPA) was completed by all participants. The participants were placed into a high or low protein group using the ASA-24 hour dietary recall. If the participant consumed less than 0.8 …

Anti-Cancer And Bioavailability Of Arachidin-1 And Arachidin-3 In Colon Cancer Cells, Macy R. Shirley

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Cancer is a common cause of death in the United States and locally in the state of Arkansas. Modifiable factors such as tobacco use, physical activity, and diet lead to reduced incidence of colon cancer diagnosis. Fruits and vegetables contain phytochemicals that confer health promoting properties. Specifically, peanuts contain phytochemicals known as resveratrol, arachidin-1, and arachidin-3 that have been linked to anticancer activities. However, a few research studies have been done on arachidin-1 and arachidin-3 that could further develop understanding of their health promoting properties or nutraceutical applications. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the most effective …

Limiting Food Waste In Child Care Facilities Through Implementation Of Portion Sizes, Margaret E. Wright

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Food waste in child care facilities is both a monetary waste and a danger to the environment. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of portion control in a child care facility on the amount of food wasted and the costs associated with food waste. It was hypothesized that establishment of portion control will result in a reduction in the amount of food waste of lunches and afternoon snacks generated by preschool children attending the Jean Tyson Child Development Study Center (JTCDSC). A four-week study was conducted where two trials were introduced: 1 two-week trial using the …

Chronic Arsenic Exposure In Nanomolar Concentrations Accelerates Senescent Phenotypes In Vitro, Heather M. Sabo

Biological Sciences

Arsenic is recognized as an environmental carcinogen, in which over 100 million individuals worldwide experience chronic exposure through contaminated drinking water. Arsenic exposure is linked to several health conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, skin lesions, immune dysfunction, and cardiovascular disease. Here we test the hypothesis that toxicants, such as arsenic, accelerate the program of senescence. Human (IMR-90) primary diploid fibroblasts were chronically exposed to arsenic at nanomolar concentrations and the impact on the expression of senescent-associated mRNAs was evaluated. IMR-90 cells were exposed either to untreated media or exposed to 130nM and 330nM AsCl3 supplemented media. RNA samples were extracted …

Exploration Of The Interactions Between Amyloid-Beta Protein And Insulin In Various Ionic Conditions, Quade Goldenberg

Biological Sciences

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by tau tangles and amyloid - β (Aβ) peptide aggregates amyloids in the brain, specifically in the hippocampus. Aβ plaques are known to form primarily in the extracellular space aroun d neuronal cells, interfering with synaptic transmission. The aggregation of Aβ in the hippocampus is associated with a decline in hippocampally - mediated cognitive abilities, which is a symptom of AD. AD has a strong correlation to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which is defined by hyperinsulinemia and dysregulated glucose metabolism. It has been shown that insulin plays a role in both memory and learning …

Mulitmodal Molecular Mechanisms Control Germline Stem Cell Differentiation In Drosophila, Mohamad Nasrallah

Biological Sciences

Stem cells have the intrinsic ability to divide to form a stem cell daughter, while also retaining the ability to self - renew. These qualities are critical , as improper stem cell maintenance is implicit in aging and provokes diseases such as cancer. We previously revealed that during Drosophila oogenesis, transcriptional silencing mediated by polar granule component (pgc) alters the germ line cell cycle to promote germ line stem cell (GSC) differentiation. O ur work with pgc suggested that cell cycle regulation might be an important general mecha nism to facilitate division GSCs into daughter stem cells (or cystoblast, CBs), …

Bhlhe40-As1 A Long-Noncoding Rna Regulates Dec1 On Breast Cancer Progression, Denisse Duran-Reyes

Biological Sciences

Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) is a precursor to breast cancer where abnormal cells have been found in the mammary duct but have not become invasive and spread into surrounding tissue. There has been an increase in early diagnosis of DCIS, but only around 40% of the cases ever progress to an invasive stage, and thus detection can lead to unnecessary surgeries. To identify which of these 40% progress, long noncoding RNAs were used. Through RNA sequencing of DCIS and invasive cells from real patient samples, BHLHE40 - AS1 was discovered, a long - noncoding R NA, to be highly …

Controllable And Sequential Activation Of Cancer Nanotherapy For Enhanced Synergistic Effec, Vincent E. Lamantia

Biological Sciences

The treatment of numerous disease states has become increasingly more complex and challenging, even as we come out with new pharmacological and technological advancements. It is well known that cancer is not one disease, but many diseases that progress and present new challenges with each patient. With this we present a novel design which uses biorthogonal chemistry and magnetic nanoparticles (MNP’s) to create a drug delivery system with the capability to deliver two drugs that are released at two different time points under the direction of a single trigger. This innovative combination of multiple advancements will allow for the treatment …

Transcriptional Regulation Of Dksa P3 Promoter In Escherichia Coli, Chibuokem Ikwuazom

Biological Sciences

DksA, a global gene regulator, binds to RNA po lymerase to regulate transcription initiation in Escherichia coli . It negatively regulates transcription of some genes, such as those for ribosomal RNAs and fis , and positively regulates transcription of other genes, including genes involved in amino acid biosynthesis. Little is known about how DksA itself is regulated. Current work in our lab has shown three major promoters, a σ 70 dependent P 1 promoter and two σ 38 (RpoS) - dependent promoters (P 2 and P 3 ), regulate the transcription of dksA . More is current ly known about …

Targeted Germ Cell Knockdown Of Xlr3 In Mus Musculus, Caity Miller

Honors Scholar Theses

The X chromosome is rather distinct from autosomes due to the unique regulatory and functional characteristics it exhibits. Xlr3 is just one gene in a superfamily of highly related, and homologous genes found on the X chromosome in mice. Xlr3 is part of a complex, imprinted locus, of which the function is not well understood, although its protein product can be found in testis and oocyte. However, it is theorized that the region may be implicated in the progression of meiosis, due to localization of XLR3. This study sought to characterize the function of Xlr3 through the use of a …

Growth And Poverty Traps: Examples From Literature, Danielle Chaloux

Honors Scholar Theses

The writings of Charles Dickens, Emile Zola, Knut Hamsun, and Laura Ingalls Wilder capture humanity on the page. The characters in the works of these authors are confronted by realistic or autobiographical situations and make choices based on history, personal preferences, societal pressures, and economic constraints, just as real-life individuals do. They can thus serve as data for illustrating the implications of economic models, specifically poverty traps. To do so, I will draw from Great Expectations (1861) by Charles Dickens, The Fat and the Thin (1873) by Emile Zola, Hunger (1890) by Knut Hamsun, and The First Four Years (1971) …

Applications Of Side Scan And Parametric Echosounders For Mapping Shallow Seagrass Habitats And Their Associated Organic Carbon, Austin L. Greene

Theses and Dissertations

Despite a global valuation of $1.9 trillion seagrass habitats world-wide are in decline—directly impacting the large soil carbon stocks associated with seagrasses. Many methods exist to measure the health of seagrass habitats, yet few apply to shallow coastal ecosystems. Those that do lack spatial resolution (satellite surveys) or do not provide continuous data across large areas (point-based surveys). Furthermore, carbon content of these ecosystems is largely limited to destructive and time-consuming soil core sampling. Side scan and parametric acoustics represent a unique technological opportunity to study habitat coverage and carbon content of vegetated coastal habitats (< 3 m depth). This study presents proof of concept for applications of recreational side scan and parametric sub-bottom profiling sonars in mapping both habitat coverage and organic carbon distribution in shallow seagrass habitats, and explores how these methods might be improved in future applications.

Decomposition Of Black Mangrove (Avicennia Germinans ) Leaf Litter: Calibrating Estuarine Indicators Of Functional Recovery, Leticia Martinez Contreras

Theses and Dissertations

Decomposition of plant material produced by mangroves and other macrophytes in estuaries occurs in both sediments and the water column. Early and intense processing could be more common in the water. In a previous study, in situ decomposition rates of Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans ) leaf litter suspended in the water column differed among three estuaries in south Texas with moderate differences in salinity, water temperature, available nitrogen (N), and tidal flow. A series of microcosm experiments were conducted to determine the influence, within observed ranges in the estuaries, of these water variables on mass loss of Black Mangrove …

Neuromuscular And Arterial Compliance Responses To Different Resistance Training Frequencies And Protocols, Patrick Murphy

Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of blood flow restriction and resistance training on arterial elasticity, EMG activity, and strength indices among sedentary to recreationally active females who completed 6 weeks of resistance training.

RESULTS: Significant time*condition interactions occurred in LE-1RM (p

CONCLUSION: The research group(s), 1–2 days/week with and without blood flow restriction, may increase training adaptations and responses parallel to the control group (3 days/week). There appears to be no differences in arterial compliance between groups.

Genetic Variation In Two Economically Important Arthropod Vectors Of Citrus Diseases, Alejandra Fuentes

Theses and Dissertations

Arthropod vectors are agriculturally and ecologically important because they transmit numerous plant pathogens. Commonly, control strategies for vector-borne plant pathogens focus on suppression of vector populations. Genetic variation studies in pest populations provide useful information for biological control, understanding pesticide resistance, and inferring global movement patterns. In chapter I, genetic variation of worldwide populations of Diaphorina citri, the vector of Citrus greening disease, was examined to assess potential sites of origin of invasive populations. The results showed population structure at regional levels, suggesting limited gene flow and revealing patterns of invasion. In chapter II, I explored the community of …

Decision Support Software For Palmer Amaranth Weed Control, Karen Renee Lindsay

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth [Amaranthus palmeri (S.) Wats.] has been identified as one of the most troublesome weeds, specifically for corn (Zea mays L.), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] producers in the southern United States. The use of herbicide technology remains the most widely used method of weed control, despite the evolution of herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth. Therefore, a need currently exists for research and extension education to encourage the adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to address the problem of herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth in the southern United States. By equipping crop producers, educators, and weed management …

Processes On The Emergent Landscapes Of Biochemical Reaction Networks And Heterogeneous Cell Population Dynamics: Differentiation In Living Matters., Sui Huang, Fangting Li, Joseph X Zhou, Hong Qian

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

The notion of an attractor has been widely employed in thinking about the nonlinear dynamics of organisms and biological phenomena as systems and as processes. The notion of a landscape with valleys and mountains encoding multiple attractors, however, has a rigorous foundation only for closed, thermodynamically non-driven, chemical systems, such as a protein. Recent advances in the theory of nonlinear stochastic dynamical systems and its applications to mesoscopic reaction networks, one reaction at a time, have provided a new basis for a landscape of open, driven biochemical reaction systems under sustained chemostat. The theory is equally applicable not only to …

Optimal Nutrition And The Ever-Changing Dietary Landscape: A Conference Report., A Shao, A Drewnowski, D C Willcox, L Krämer, Christopher G Lausted, M Eggersdorfer, J Mathers, J D Bell, R K Randolph, R Witkamp, J C Griffiths

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

The field of nutrition has evolved rapidly over the past century. Nutrition scientists and policy makers in the developed world have shifted the focus of their efforts from dealing with diseases of overt nutrient deficiency to a new paradigm aimed at coping with conditions of excess-calories, sedentary lifestyles and stress. Advances in nutrition science, technology and manufacturing have largely eradicated nutrient deficiency diseases, while simultaneously facing the growing challenges of obesity, non-communicable diseases and aging. Nutrition research has gone through a necessary evolution, starting with a reductionist approach, driven by an ambition to understand the mechanisms responsible for the effects …

Fluorinated N,N'-Diarylureas As Novel Therapeutic Agents Against Cancer Stem Cells, Dasha E. Kenlan, Piotr G. Rychahou, Vitaliy M. Sviripa, Heidi L. Weiss, Chunming Liu, David S. Watt, B. Mark Evers

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States. More than 50% of patients with colorectal cancer will develop local recurrence or distant organ metastasis. Cancer stem cells play a major role in the survival and metastasis of cancer cells. In this study, we examined the effects of novel AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activating compounds on colorectal cancer metastatic and stem cell lines as potential candidates for chemotherapy. We found that activation of AMPK by all fluorinated N,N-diarylureas (FND) compounds at micromolar levels significantly inhibited the cell-cycle progression and subsequent cellular proliferation. In addition, we demonstrated …

Paracrine Regulation Of Melanocyte Genomic Stability: A Focus On Nucleotide Excision Repair, Stuart Gordon Jarrett, Katharine Marie Carter, John August D'Orazio

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

UV radiation is a major environmental risk factor for the development of melanoma by causing DNA damage and mutations. Resistance to UV damage is largely determined by the capacity of melanocytes to respond to UV injury by repairing mutagenic photolesions. The nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway is the major mechanism by which cells correct UV photodamage. This multistep process involves the basic steps of damage recognition, isolation, localized strand unwinding, assembly of a repair complex, excision of the damage‐containing strand 3′ and 5′ to the photolesion, synthesis of a sequence‐appropriate replacement strand, and finally ligation to restore continuity of genomic …

Climate Influences The Content And Chemical Composition Of Foliar Tannins In Green And Senesced Tissues Of Quercus Rubra, Sara M. Top, Caroline M. Preston, Jeffrey S. Dukes, Nishanth Tharayil

Open Access Publishing Fund

Environmental stresses not only influence production of plant metabolites but could also modify their resorption during leaf senescence. The production-resorption dynamics of polyphenolic tannins, a class of defense compound whose ecological role extends beyond tissue senescence, could amplify the influence of climate on ecosystem processes. We studied the quantity, chemical composition, and tissue-association of tannins in green and freshly-senesced leaves of Quercus rubra exposed to different temperature (Warming and No Warming) and precipitation treatments (Dry, Ambient, Wet) at the Boston-Area Climate Experiment (BACE) in Massachusetts, USA. Climate influenced not only the quantity of tannins, but also …